Weatherproof wail



G. E. DICKSON.

WEATHERPROOF NAIL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 191?.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

GEORGE E. DIGKSON', OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TEATHERPROOF NAIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. a, rain.

Application filed. September 6, 1917. Serial No. 190,071.

To all whom it may concern: 7

- Be it known that I, GEORGE E. DIGKSON, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weatherproof Nails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Weatherproof nails which have soft metal caps and its object is to lessen the cost of manufacture and at the same time to improve the construction by reducing the quantity of metal required for making the cap and distributing the metal so as to rovide a strong and substantial cap secure y anchored to the shank of the nail and with the metal disposed and distributed to meet all requirements for a nail of this character.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following speci fication when read in connection with the aocompanyin drawing illustrating the preferred embo 1ment thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a view inperspective of a nail constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a nail with the metal cap in section.

v Fig. 3 is a sectional view through a die and punch adapted for use in carrying out my invention and illustrating the nall and soft metal at the commencement of the operation, and

Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the nail and soft metal cap at the conclusion of the operation.

Ordinary nails are not adapted for use in securing sheet metal to supporting structures in exposed situationsnfor the reason that moisture is ermit'ted to enter about the shank of the nai and corrode the under side of the sheet metal. The nail itself also corrodes rapidly and soon becomes useless. It has heretofore been suggested to inclose the head of the nail in a soft metal cap. I Such nails have been manufactured by casting a soft metal cap about the head of the nail, but these nails have not been entirely satisfactory because the soft metal is not properly distributed to produce the best results in practical use. Moreover the cost of such nails is relatively high because a cons derable quantity of lead must be used to 1nsure that the metal will flow duringlthe casting operation and because of the igh percentage of worthless nails whichTesults from this method.

Such nails have a large proportion of-the lead above the head of the nail, and When the nail is driven the head is forced upwardly through the soft metal causing the cap to become loose. The soft metalabove the head of the nail is ineffective eXcept as it afl'ords protection against corrosion, and consequently a considerable quantity of the lead is wasted.

My improved nail overcomes the disadvantages referred to and requires, only about one-half of the metal heretofore employed in making the soft metal cap, whereby the cost of manufacture is materially reduced, and the metal is so distributed that the efficiency of the cap is greatly increased.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates the shank of a nail which may be of ordinary wire type having a head 6 of any desired shape but preferably as shown in the drawing. The head 6 is inclosed in a cap 7 which may be of any suitable soft metal but is preferably formed of lead. The top 8 of the cap is rounded or spherical in form, and the under side 9 is slightly conical in form so that the. edge 10 first engages the sheet metal when the nail is driven.

T have discovered that by the use of a herein described punch and die the soft metal cap 7 may be secured to the head of the nail in a single operation and without heating the soft metal. In carrying out my in-.

-7. A mass 15 containing the required quantity of soft metal to make the head is dropped into the die as indicated in Fig. 3. For convenience in handling it is desirable to use a spherical mass. as shown. although the shape of the mass is of no importance, whatever. A punch 16 is provided to snugly fit the die 11 and is provided with a depression 17 in its end corresponding in shape to the top of the soft metal cap 7 When the punch 16 is forced into the die at a suitable pressure, the mass 15 is caused to assume the form indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the metal flowing under the head 6 of the nail to firmly lock the cap to the head. The nail i is then withdrawn from the die and the operation is repeated.

My invention is adapted to the production of Weather proof nails embodying soft metal caps With the minimum application of power and with great rapidity. Each nail is perfect, and need not be inspected before shipment as is necessary with nails having the head cast thereon. I am enabled to make nails with a minimum quantity of soft metal, all of which is essential to the successful performance of the desired function. None of the soft metal is Wasted as in other forms of weather proof nails.

In use the shank 5 of the nail is forced through the sheet metal and the nail is driven home until the edge 10 engages the sheet metal. The cap is flattened slightly and the edge 10 engages the sheet metal throughout its circumference thus effectively sealing the opening through which the shank of the nail passes. Thus entrance of moisture and consequent corrosion is prevented. The head of the nail is protected by the layer of soft metal which overlies it.

Various changes may be made in the form construction and arrangement of the parts Within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention, or sacrificing any of its material advantages the form hereinbefore described, being merely the preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

A Weatherproof nail comprising a shank and a' round head which forms a substantial projection from the shank, said head having a Hat top surface and being slightly inclined on its underside downward from its periphery to the shank, and a soft metal cap of A substantially uniform thickness throughout surrounding said head, said cap having a rounded top surface, a peripheral edge substantially coaxial with the shank of the nail,

and a substantially conical bottom surface.

GEORGE E. DICKSON.

Witnesses:

ERNEST H. MERCHANT, W. T. VVns'rERBERG. 

